The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
THE COMMUNE.
PICTURES OF PARIS IN THE
DARK DAYS OF 1871.
A Communistic Concert in the Tuil-
eries-The Shooting of Arch
bishop Darboy - Ex-Minis-
ter Washburn's Account.

In an article in ScriJner on "Paris
Under the Commune, eX-united States
Minister f. B. Washburn says: A most
curious event occurred at the palace of
the Tuileries on Sunday afternoon. May
10, 1871. There was grand concert
given there at that time under the dlrcc-
ton of the communard authorities. The
proposed "concours was widely adver-
tised in the city and every effort was
made to have it grand success. AS its
avowed purpose was bcneticent one,
the appeal made to the communard pop
ulatisn of Paris was very strong one.
The attendance was large and a great
amount of money was taken in. The
concert was advertised for Sunday even
ing, but there was an immense affair in
the garden of the Tuileries in the after
noon. There was not less than 10000
persons present. There was emusic
with its voluptucus swell THE bands of
great many regiments and no less than
1000 musicians playing and singing the
soul-stirring Marseitlaise. But it was in
the evening that there was the greatest
interest. The palace of the Tuilerics
was thrown open to the public, and the
glcat hordes of men, women and children
went through the gardens and dcfiled
through the gorgeous and magnificent
apartments of the palace.
Though knew all about the concert, l
did not deem it q fitting occasion to be
present myself on Sabbath day, but l
sent one of my secretaries to see what
was to be seen and to report to me. He
stated that what he there beheld was a
remarkable and interesting sight. Ten
thousand people filled all the apartments,
wandering everywhere at their ease, and
examining into every nook and corner OF
the vast palace. The comments of the
rabble were ,most amusing. My secretary
kept along with the crowd everywhere,
seeing all that was to be seen, and listen
ing to all that was said. Great interest
centcred in the private apartments OF the
Empress. The gorgeous belongings were
everywhere commented upoE by the mob.
The bath of the Empress attracted great
attention. 1t was represented as very
handsome and as a marvel OF luxury,
beauty and taste. 1t was surrounded by
heavy plate mirrors. The bath was cut
out of solid marble The ceilings were
covered with rich blue silk velvet. The
faucets in the bath were of solid silver.
All that was seen was described by the
communards as evidence of the profigacy
and luxury of the court in the vast in
crease of taxes levied upon them. Not
one man in the crowd, it is safe to say,
had ever paid cent of taxes in his life.
THE SHOOTING OF ARCHBISHOP DARBoY.
The days of Tuesday and Wednesday,
the 23d and Gath of May, were anxious
days at La Roquette, but there were no
very striking incidents. AboutG o'clock
on Wednesday evening detachment of
forty of the National Guard, belonging
to the "Vcngcurs of the Republic" as
they were called, arrived at the prison
with captain, first and second lieuten-
ants, a commissaire of police and two
civil delegates. They all wore bright
rcd scarfs. Entering the office of the
jailer, these civil delegates demanded OF
the director of the prison the release of
the hostages, saying that they were COM
mandcd to shoot them. The director at
first refused to deliver up the prisoners,
saving that he would not consent to such
a massacre of men contided to his care
without moro formal orders. A long dis.
pute thcrcupon arose, which finally ended
BY the directors giving consent to deliver
up six certain victims who had been des'
ignatcd. The men awaited the decision
impatiently in the court, and as soon as
the delegates had got the consent Of the
director to give up the prisoners they all
mounted the staircase pcll-mell to the
first story, where the hostages were ther
confined.
In the presence of such contemplat'
ed crime silence came over these assas
sins, who awaited the call of the names
of the victims. The names of the SIX
martyrs were called. The Preaiden1
Bon jean, occupying cell No. l, was
first; then the Able Dcguerry, occupy
ing cell No. 4, was the second; and the
the last called was Mgr. Darboy, Arch
bishop of Paris, who occupied cell No.
%. The doors of the cells were then
opened by the officer of the prison, ano
the victims were all ordered to leave
They descended, going to the foot Of tht
staircase, where they embraced each othel
and had few words, the last on earth
Never was there more mournful cortcge
nor one calculated to awaken sadder emo
tions. Mgr. Darboy, though weak ano
enfcebled by disease, gave his arm tc
! Chief-Justice Bonjean, and the venerable
man, so we'll known in Paris, Abbe De
gucrry, leaned upon the arms of the tive
priests. A good many struggling Ma
tional Guards and others had gathered
around the door of the prison as the vic
tins went out, and they heaped upor
them the vilest cpithcts, and to an extent
that aroused the indignation of sub
lieutenant, who commanded silence, say
to them, "that which comes to these
persons to-day, who knows but what the
same will come to us Tomorrow" Ano
man in blouse added, ''mcn who &C
to meet death ought not to be insulted
none but towards will insult the untor'
tunate." Arriving in the court of La
Roquette, darkness had already come
on, and it was necessary to get Ian
terms to conduct the victims through the
high walls which surrounded the court.
Nothing shook the firmness of these men
when they were thus being marched to
assassination. The Archbishop was the
coolest and tirmest, because the greatest
He shook each one by the hand and gave
him his last benediction. When they ar
rived at the place where they were to be
shot, the victims were all placed agains,
the walls which enclosed the sombre edl'
fee of the prison of La Roquette:; The
Archbishop was placed at the head OF tht
line, and the fiends who murdered him